Senior NUP official may face charges of spying with rebels: NCP

August 18, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The head of the judicial circuit at Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP), al-Fadil Hag Suleiman, said the arrest of the deputy chairman of the National Umma Party (NUP) Meriam al-Mahdi, was subject to political consideration but said she would probably face charges of spying with armed groups.

FILE - Meriam Al-Mahdi is the daughter of the National Umma Party leader al-Sadiq al-Mahdi (AFP)

Last week, the Sudanese security services arrested al-Mahdi as she returned from Paris after meetings with the rebel alliance of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF).

The leading figure at the NCP, Amin Hassan Omer, said that al-Mahdi was not detained but held for investigation, emphasizing that no country in the world would allow its citizens to travel abroad and sign deals with rebel groups and return to enjoy “quiet sleep” in their homes.

Suleiman said in press statements on Monday that the legal procedures taken against al-Mahdi have nothing to do with the national dialogue, adding that her detention was subject to political evaluation and she might face charges of spying and signing agreements with rebel groups particularly as the SRF is classified as an “enemy”.

“In all cases she would either be brought to trial or released”, he added.

He stressed that detentions are either being carried out by the police and public prosecution under criminal procedures or for political reasons, underscoring the right of the detained person to know the reason behind his detention and charges he faces.

DUP DENOUNCES DETENTION

Meanwhile, the leading figure and former presidential candidate of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) led by Mohamed Osman Al-Merghani, Hatim al-Sir Ali, has denounced detention of Meraim al-Mahdi and continued detention of the leader of the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP), Ibrahim Al-Shiekh.

He said in press statement on Sunday that the regime violates the constitution and the laws and harms the national dialogue when it insists on dealing with the political issues from security perspective, stressing that al-Mahdi was arrested against the background of the Paris Declaration.

“What has been said in Paris Declaration will be discussed in the national dialogue inside Sudan”, he added.

He called for assessing Paris Declaration through dialogue not detention, saying the parties to the declaration are Sudanese parties which were included in the national dialogue initiative launched by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir.

On August 8, the NUP and SRF signed the “Paris Declaration” which calls for ending war and engaging in a genuine national dialogue aimed at restoring democracy in Sudan.

Al-Sir said the NUP and the SRF have the right to express their views in the national issues, expressing surprise from the continued detention of Sudan Congress Party (SCoP) Ibrahim al-shiekh.

He stressed that al-Shiekh is innocent by conclusive evidence, underscoring that charges against him are false and fabricated and aimed at taming and intimidating him.

Al-Sir further added that dealing with political issues in such a reckless manner would only destroy the country, calling upon the government to immediately release all political detainees and respect its citizens instead of intimidating them through the security apparatus.

The DUP is taking part in the national dialogue mechanism along with the NCP and other pro-government parties.

(ST)

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